United's fans could have been forgiven for singing "Can we play you every week?" at their east coast rivals after this win.

Their team have now won two games at home in the league this season - and Aberdeen were also the victims first time around.

The Tannadice men turned it on again with home debuts from Dave Hannah and on-loan Coventry midfielder John Eustace playing a major part in the much-improved performance.

All the midweek talk of mergers with neighbours Dundee was forgotten when the home side swept away their relegation rivals.

Ex-Aberdeen winger Joe Miller and Kjell Olofsson were outstanding up front.

The Dons have a dreadful recent record of only one win in their last 10 visits to Tannadice and, apart from Dennis Wyness forcing a wonderful save from Sieb Dykstra, they rarely troubled the home rearguard.

United thought they had taken the lead in the 21st minute when Dodds challenged Leighton and the ball broke for Jason De Vos who shot into the net.

The referee pointed to the halfway line before a flag from his assistant made him change his mind.

The home side deservedly went ahead in the 34th minute when Miller swung in a corner and De Vos headed goalwards for Olofsson to nod in from close range.

The visitors hit back almost immediately and it needed a fine save by Dykstra to stop Wyness's 16-yard shot.

Three minutes after the break another corner from Miller found Dodds unmarked at the far post and the little striker powered in his 10th goal of his United career from close range.

The game was over in the 66th minute when a superb move involving Dodds and Olofsson ended with the Swede cutting the ball back for Hannah to side-foot the ball into the corner of Leighton's net from 12 yards.

Dundee Utd: Dykstra, Malpas, Pedersen, Olofsson, Hannah, Easton, Dodds, Miller, Duffy, De Vos, Eustace. Subs: Jonsson, Mathie, McLaren, Patterson, Gallacher.

Aberdeen: Leighton, Perry, Whyte, Inglis, Smith, Jess, Newell, Mayer, Kiriakov, Young, Wyness. Subs: Pepper, Dow, Stillie, Buchan, Notman.